Combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle



J. S. MILLS April 20, 1965 COMBINED ASHTRAY, NAPKIN HOLDER AND TRASH RECEPTACLE Filed Sept. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 James 5. Mills Fig. 2

INVENTOR.

J. S. MILLS April 20, 1965 COMBINED ASHTRAY, NAPKIN HOLDER AND TRASH RECEPIACLE Filed Sept. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 James 52 Mil/s IN VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,179,254 COMBINED ASHTRAY, NAPKIN HOLDER AND TRASH RECEPTACLE James S. Mills, P.O. Box 1025, Artesia, N. Mex. Filed Sept. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 139,146 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-51) This invention relates to a novel and useful combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle and is primarily designed for use in eating establishments.

In eating establishments ashtrays, napkin holders and trash receptacles are quite often placed on counter and table tops for convenient use by the customers of the establishment. i

As it is an established practice with most eating establishments to wipe down the entire portion of a counter or a table top after a meal has been eaten at that location, the trash receptacles, ashtrays and napkin holders must be occasionally lifted from the counter or table top or tops in order to enable these locations to be wiped down efiiciently. If a waiter or waitress decides to wipe down the counter or table top at the same time he or she is clearing soiled dishes from the eating area, the waiter or waitress sometimes finds it difiicult to support a tray of dirty dishes while at the same time lifting an ashtray, a napkin holder and a trash receptacle and wiping down the eating area.

Accordingly, it is the main object of this invention to provide a combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle which may be conveniently lifted as a complete unit during the process of wiping down an eating area which is normally served by the combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle.

As it is sometimes the case that customers will remain seated at an eating area for a considerable length of time, such as in restaurants and night clubs where drinks are served, the ashtray serving the eating area and the trash receptacle will quite often be in need of emptying before the eating area is vacated by the customers in preparation for providing an eating area for subsequent customers.

Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, to provide a combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle which employs one or more ashtrays that are secured to the napkin holder and trash receptacle in a man- 1 ner whereby they may be readily disengaged from the napkin holder and trash receptacle upon substantial vertical lifting of the ashtrays in order that each individual ashtray may be readily disengaged from the napkin holder and trash receptacle to be emptied and thereafter again placed in engagement with the napkin holder and trash receptacle with the least amount of effort and in a manner whereby the ashtray or trays may be subsequently again lifted as a unit with the napkin holder and trash receptacle upon lifting of the latter.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding objects, is to provide a combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle which will offer a pleasing appearance.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to handle so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free to service.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accom- ICC panying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 2 as seen from the right side thereof and with parts thereof being broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the assembly similar to that of FIGURE 1 but showing one of the ashtrays removed and having parts of the assembly broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the manner in which the closure cover for the housing is removably secured thereto and the manner in which the movable closure wall is movably mounted to open and close the trashreceiving opening formed in the closure cover; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of one side of the combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle with one ashtray thereof disengaged from the assembly.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the combined ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle assembly of the instant invention.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings it will be noted that the assembly 10 includes a generally rectangular housing referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 which includes opposite end Walls 14 and 16 and opposite side walls 18 and 20. The end walls and side walls are interconnected by means of a bottom wall 22. The side walls 13 and 20 each has a napkin dispensing opening 24 formed therein and it will be noted that a pair of napkin storage and dispensing compartments generally referred to by the reference numerals 26 are formed within the housing 12. Each of the compartments 26 is formed by means of an inner wall 28 secured between the end walls 14 and 16 in any convenient manner and a top wall 30 secured between the upper edges of the corresponding inner walls 28, side walls and opposite end per-- tions of the end walls 14 and 16.

A leaf spring assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 32 is secured to each inner wall 28 and includes two bowed portions 34 and 36 for yieldably urging a plurality of napkins 38 disposed in the corresponding compartment 26 toward the corresponding side wall thereof whereby the outermost napkin 38 may be removed through the corresponding opening 24.

It will be noted that the napkin storage compartments 26 are spaced apart and that trash receiving means in the form of an open top trash receiving compartment generally referred to by the reference numeral 40 is formed between the napkin storage compartments 26. An open top trash receptacle 42 is snugly received within the trash receiving compartment 40 said receptacle being suspended on hooks 43 with its bottom resting on the housing bottom 22, and it will be noted that a closure cover assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 44 is removably secured over the upper end of the housing 12. The closure cover 44 is generally anticlinal and includes a pair of upwardly convergent side walls 46 and 48 forming continuations of side walls 18 and 2-0 and a pair of generally vertical end walls 50 and 52 forming continuations of the end walls 14 and 16 respectively.

A pair of trash receiving openings 54 are formed in each of the side walls 44 and 48 and each is provided with a hinged door or closure wall 56 which is pivotally secured a to the corresponding closure cover side Wall by means of a hinge assembly 58. It will be noted that the hinge assembly is constructed in a manner so as to provide means yieldably urging the closure panels 56 to a closed position such as tha't'illustr'ated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. Further, it will be noted that each of the closure walls 56 includes a laterally offset stop flange 641 for providing a limit stop to establish the closed position of the corresponding closure wall 56.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 3 and 7 of the drawings it will be noted that each end of the housing 12 has an ashtray generally referred to by the reference numeral 62 removably secured thereto. Each of the ashtrays 62 includes a bottom 64 adapted to rest upon the supporting surface 66 for the housing 12 and a generally inverted U-shaped peripheral wall 68. At least one side of the peripheral wall 68 is substantially straight as at 711 for surface-to-surface contacting engagement with the correpsonding end wall of the housing 12 and it will be noted that each end wall 14 and 16 has a pair of upstanding .tabs 72 struck laterally and outwardly therefrom. Each of the tabs 72 is spaced a distance from the corresponding end wall sufiicient to snugly receive a corresponding foreshortenedouter flange portion 74 of the corresponding ashtray 62 between the tab 72 and the corresponding end wall of the housing 12.

It will be noted further that at least one portion of the peripheral wall 68 is provided with cigarette receiving upwardly opening notches 76 and that the ashtrays, when engaged with the housing 12 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, may be lifted as a unit with the housing 12 when the latter is lifted. However, it will also be noted that each of the ashtrays 62 may be lifted separately from engagement with the, housing 12 merely by lifting the ashtray 62 straight up whereupon the foreshortened flange portion 74 will be readily disengaged from the pocket 78 formed between each tab 72 and the corresponding end wall of the housing 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A combination ashtray, napkin holder and trash receptacle comprising, in combination, a generally rectangular housing including a bottom, spaced opposed end walls and spaced, opposed side walls, a pair of spaced, opposed vertical partitions in the housing extending between the end walls and top walls on said partitions and said end walls and defining in conjunction therewith and with the side walls and bottom outer compartments for the reception of napkins and an inner compartment for the reception of trash and having an open top, said side walls having napkin-dispensing openings therein communicating with the napkin compartments, said housing further including a generally anticlinal removable cover having parallel, elongated openings therein adjacent to and on opposite sides of the top thereof for providing access to the trash compartment, downwardly and inwardly swingable, spring-closed doors for the opening hingedly mounted on said opposite sides of the cover below said openings, an open-top receptacle removably mounted in the trash compartment, said doors, when in an open position, resting on the napkin compartments and projecting at an inclination into the receptacle for conveying trash by gravity thereinto from the openings, and means for securing said receptacle in position in said trash compartment, said means including upstanding hooks on the end walls and partitions for hanging the receptacle thereon with its bottom resting on the housing bottom.

2. The combination of claim 1, together with leaf springs on the partitions for yieldingly urging the napkins toward the last-named openings.

3. The combination of claim 2, and substantially semi-circular ashtrays removably mounted on the lower portions of the end Walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,025,805 5/12 Holden 221-232 1,247,938 11/17 Curtenius 248-224 7 1,424,519 8/22 Richardson 220-1 1,478,884 12/23 Becker 2201 1,566,175 12/25 Vaghi 221-102 1,681,840 8/28 Carlson 221--34 1,720,309 7/29 Wakefield 131-341 1,818,608 8/31 Chafkin 220-35 2,007,042 7/35 Duckett 206-1 2,069,264 2/37 Morris 221 -35 2,759,630 8/56 Baum et al. 22134 FOREIGN PATENTS 484,174 8/53 Italy. 

1. A COMBINATION ASHTRAY, NAPKIN HOLDER AND TRASH RECEPTACLE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR HOUSING INCLUDING A BOTTOM, SPACED OPPOSED END WALLS AND SPACED, OPPOSED SIDE WALL, A PAIR OF SPACED, OPPOSED VERTICAL PARTITIONS IN THE HOUSING EXTENDING BETWEEN THE END WALLS AND TOP WALLS ON SAID PARTITIONS AND SAID END WALLS AND DEFINING IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH AND WITH THE SIDE WALLS AND BOTTOM OUTER COMPARTMENTS FOR THE RECEPTION OF NAPKINS AND AN INNER COMPARTMENTS FOR THE RECEPTION OF TRASH AND HAVING AN OPEN TOP, SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING NAPKIN-DISPENSING OPENINGS THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE NAPKIN COMPARTMENTS, SAID HOUSING FURTHER INCLUDING A GENERALLY ANTICLINAL REMOVABLE COVER HAVING PARALLEL, ELONGATED OPENINGS THEREIN ADJACENT TO AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TOP THEREOF FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE TRASH COMPARTMENT, DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY SWINGABLE, SPRING-CLOSED DOORS FOR THE OPENING HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE COVER BELOW SAID OPENINS, AN OPEN-TOP RECEPTACLE REMOVABLY MOUNTED 